‘Tis the season for giving – and Shipt is delivering holiday cheer to communities in our hometown of Birmingham, Alabama by keeping people at the heart of everything we do.

On Saturday, December 14, Shipt team members and leaders came together to provide over 300 families with whole turkeys, hams, fresh produce, fresh dairy items, and other shelf-stable items to stock their fridges for the holidays. Alongside great community partners, Shipt’s CEO Kamau Witherspoon shared why supporting the community is so important to Shipt.

“Today and every day, Shipt strives to deliver delight and bridge the gap between families and nutritious foods – and that starts right here at home in Birmingham,” said Shipt CEO Kamau Witherspoon. “At Shipt, we understand that solving the problem of food insecurity is an effort that requires people and organizations, including the private and public sector, to come together to do their part. We are proud to continue investing in programs and partnerships that help make fresh food accessible for everyone and build healthier communities.”  

Volunteers across four total organizations partnered together for this heart-warming day of service, all leaving knowing that they made a difference in the lives of hundreds of families. Alongside Shipt, those partners were: 

• Goodr, an Atlanta Atlanta-based organization and a recipient of Shipt’s 2024 Community Impact and Innovation grant program, who works to address food insecurity around the country and played a key role in executing the successful day of giving back

• Target stores of Greater Birmingham, who donated 200 twenty-pound turkeys from their stores across the Birmingham metro area 

• The Housing Authority of Birmingham District, who helped spread the word throughout the community, and connect us with those who are in need 

"The Housing Authority of Birmingham District is excited to continue our valued partnership with Shipt as we work together to serve the Wenonah and Woodlawn community. Through initiatives like community clean-ups and Shipt’s Magic City Mentorship program, we are committed to enhancing the well-being of our residents and creating a stronger, more vibrant neighborhood. We look forward to furthering this partnership and seeing its positive impact for years to come," stated Dontrelle Young Foster, CEO/President of the Housing Authority of Birmingham District. 

More than 40 million (almost 18%) Americans live in areas just like the Wenonah communities, where access to affordable, nutritious food may be limited or difficult to access. Shipt serves almost 74 percent of these communities nationwide, helping to bridge a critical nutrition gap for America’s families. 

Last year, Shipt was proud to begin accepting SNAP EBT payments, which is critical in eliminating barriers and providing greater access to food. In addition to 50% off the discounted monthly membership offer, SNAP recipients are also able to use their EBT card to pay for groceries on Shipt. 

Supporting individuals who are impacted by food access is central to Shipt’s commitment to building healthier, more equitable communities – an initiative that is led in part through our business accelerator and grant program, which has awarded $4.5 million to community organizations and nonprofits focused on addressing food insecurity, economic disparities, and workforce development. 

Shipt has also provided over 12.5 million meals for food-insecure individuals through our longtime partnership with Feeding America. 

Strengthening the Birmingham Community Year Round

The Kimbrough Homes community is located across from one of Shipt’s Magic City Mentorship locations, Wenonah High School. For more than a year, Shipt has cultivated a strong relationship with the Wenonah community through this program, with Shipt team members providing invaluable support and mentorship for Wenonah High School students. 

The mentorship program is part of Shipt’s $1 million commitment to The Birmingham Promise to help reduce barriers to funding for college and increase access to mentoring for students as they progress from high school through college and into their early careers. 

To stay connected to this work, visit https://www.shipt.com/community